Stripe rust is expected to be a hot topic at upcoming university research field days in Oregon and Washington, organizers say.

"It's been so prevalent and so many fields have been sprayed at least twice with fungicides, which is very atypical for our region," said Don Wysocki, Oregon State University soil scientist and associate professor.

OSU holds field days at 7:45 a.m. June 14 at the Pendleton Agriculture Research Center station and at the Sherman Research Station June 15 in Moro. Attendees should gather at 7 a.m. at Sherman County High School for the Sherman Field Day.

The Lind Field Day takes place at 8:30 a.m. June 16 at the Washington State University Lind Dryland Research Station.

"I think they're going to see some really good wheat," said Bill Schillinger, director of the Lind station. "They're going to see some stripe rust, but it looks really good throughout the region. This could be a banner year for wheat production, and it's certainly one of our bigger years for stripe rust infestation."

In the short term, Wysocki said, farmers must determine the level of stripe rust infestation that justifies application of chemicals. Wheat fields are beginning to head and flower, so adult plant resistance should kick in, he said.

Long-term questions include the likelihood of a similar infestation next year and potential changes to the stripe rust races, including whether wheat varieties will continue to be resistant.

"Those kind of things will be discussed," Wysocki said. "That alone would be worth coming to the field day."

Other OSU presentations include soil microbiology, winter canola and winter safflower and updates from the OSU and USDA Agricultural Research Service wheat breeding programs.

The Lind Field Day includes weed control in wheat, wheat drought tolerance, residue decomposition factors and an update on deep-furrow drill prototypes, which are expected to be ready for field testing in late August.

The research events are free. Pesticide application recertification credits are available.

For more information, contact Wysocki at 541-278-4396. Contact Schillinger at 509-235-1933.

Other field days set

* Washington State University and Lincoln County Wheat Growers tour of research plots: Begins at 6 p.m. June 15 in Harrington. The tours continue at 4 p.m. June 16 in Almira, 8 a.m. June 21 in Creston and 7 a.m. June 22 in Reardan. Contact Diana Roberts at 509-477-2167. Preregister for the Creston tour, part of the Northern Lincoln County Tour, by calling 509-659-3212 before June 17.